I'm considering replacing my old boat this year.

With the prices of new boats, you certainly want to protect the boat from weather when not in use.

Unfortunately, there's no way a boat would fit in my attached garage, just too shallow.

My neighbor hood is really strict, so no carports are allowed. Forcing me to build a detached garage on a slab, which can get pretty pricey. I'm sure it's worth it of course but ....

But it started me wondering, in todays age, do boat covers do any good at all?

With all of the boat thief's, I would build a garage to keep it in. Will add value to your home. When you take off the cost of a good custom boat tarp the garage looks better.

If at all possible I highly recommend a garage if anything for it's security. You know out of sight out of mind. I had one built and put in by Tuff Shed, it is well constructed and matched the house and surprisingly reasonably priced.

How long (deep) is your tuff shed?

If I do build a garage I might consider making it big enough for more gear. Say 24x30 deep.

New boats these days can easily be 24 feet with the tongue put away.

Also I'm on about an acre an a half, lots of room, fenced, gate, very private and incredibly deep into an acre community. There is only one other house on my street and it takes 7 minutes from the hood entrance to my house

I also have airstream I'm trying to get under cover. Trying to get the hood to let me build a nice lean to on the side of the garage, but it all has to be on a pad. The costs add up, plus then the cost of a new boat, phew it can be overwhelming.

But I am looking for ,y "forever" boat. The one you keep. My current boat was my learner boat. Leaning legend v20

By city code the longest I could put in was 28 foot to stay within the width of my yard. So I went with a 14' x 28'. We also have a narrow alley and a tight turn. This kept it under 400 square foot so it didn't require a permit for the pad but still had to get a building and elect. permit and inspection. I have plenty of room around the boat and was able to put free standing shelves along the back and side to stow extra gear.

Boat covers work really good to grow mold under them. Also cats and critters love to get under them and pizz on the carpet.

I don't know where you live, but i would def. recommend ponying up $120/mo to put it in a boat storage that is temp controlled. In my opinion, a cover is a good thing, but w/ temps in winter dropping i just feel better knowing that when it is 30 degrees at night the lower unit/motor/boat is nice and cozy/tucked into bed in 72 degrees storage!

What's the size of that door?

I was in the same fix when I lived in GA. Kept my boat under a cover for 3 years. Ruined the carpet and the finish. The smart thing to do is rent a storage unit and keep it inside.

10' with a standard solid wood/painted aluminum side door. Tuff Shed can give you pretty much any combination you want. I had the big door offset 1' closer to the alley to make it easier to angle the boat in.

If you keep a canvas tarp tight over your boat it will prevent ventilation. It will get musty and be a magnet for bugs...mostly carpenter and acrobat ants. I tried this for a while and it was a pain. I put the front and rear pedestal posts in and slit my canvas tarp to fit over them. I put 2" sch. 40 PVC pipe over the pedestals and came up high enough to clear the motor and installed tees to tie everything together. At either end I put 90* elbows another PVC pipe that goes to the ground behind my motor and one in front of the trailer hitch. In the middle of the top horizontal pipe I cut it and used a 2" rubber coupling with hose clamps to make it easier to remove in two pieces. Basically made a tent frame. I secure the pipe coming down behind the motor with a couple of bungee chords around the motor. I bought an 11'x24' blue tarp and draped it over the frame and weighted it down to the ground with para cord and bricks. Works like a Champ. The canvas tarp on the boat keeps the dust out of the boat but air is still able to circulate. Has done very well in the wind too. All for about $40 including the blue tarp for the tent from Harbor freight. When it wears out I'll spend another $20 and get another one.

Looks like a small garage is in my future

There's a tuff shed right near me. I think a 16x28 would give room for a good size door and space for lawn gear